Peter Lawrie kept alive hopes of regaining his Tour card after a bizarre start to his Porsche European Open campaign at Bad Griesbach in Germany.

AIG Cups and Shields

The sunny south-east lived up to its reputation in style at Tramore, Co Waterford, yesterday when the opening day of the AIG Irish Close Championship was favoured by glorious weather conditions.

Paul McBride, a student at the famous golfing academy of Wake Forest in North Carolina which numbers Arnold Palmer, Eoghan O’Connell and Darren Clarke among its alumni, demonstrated once again at Lahinch yesterday that Malahide continues to produce young golfers of the highest calibre.

Ever since the distinguished golf course architect Martin Hawtree modified and considerably altered the famous old links in 2001, Lahinch has become a formidable challenge for the game’s finest, whether amateur or professional.

With handicaps ranging from plus 4 to 1.1, the high quality of the entry for the West Coast Hotels sponsored South of Ireland Championship beginning at Lahinch this morning is a source of considerable satisfaction for the organising committee.

Weekend wins for Rosslare in Irish Senior Cup Leinster section and Warrenpoint in the Barton Shield in Ulster have confirmed the field for the national finals of the AIG Cups and Shields at Carton House, Kildare next month.

He may never match the feats of his major-winning father Darren but Tyrone Clarke has dipped his toes into competitive golfing waters this year and yesterday strutted his stuff in the Pro-Am ahead of this week’s Northern Ireland Open Challenge at Galgorm Castle.

Stuart Bleakley, a 19-year-old from Shandon Park, became the third member of the illustrious Belfast club to win the Clare Coast Hotels South of Ireland in extremely difficult weather conditions at Lahinch yesterday when he defeated Darragh Coghlan (Portmarnock) in the final by 3 and 2.

Four golfers whose names don’t really ring a bell for followers of the amateur game have qualified for this morning’s semi-finals of the Clare Coast Hotels South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch.

County Sligo remain on target for the first part of a potential title double at the AIG All-Ireland Cups & Shields National Finals after booking a place in today’s Barton Shield decider at Royal Tara Golf Club.

Incoming European Affairs Minister Paschal Donohoe has pledged to use his new role to try and facilitate Ireland’s exit from the bailout programme.

A legal dispute between AIB and several former senior executives whom the bank accused of secretly scheming to take over its international financial services business has been settled, the Commercial Court has heard.

Ireland’s women selectors have sprung a surprise by dropping Lisa Maguire from the side for the World Amateur Team Championships in Turkey next month.

Paula Grant secured a healthy top 10 finish and was the leading Irish competitor in the Ladies British Open Strokeplay Championship at Shandon Park in Belfast yesterday.

With the disappointing late withdrawal of the Slieve Russell twins Leona and Lisa Maguire, the focus of attention turned to the other Irish competitors in the smaller-than-usual field in the British Ladies Open stroke-play championship at Shandon Park, Belfast yesterday.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Holywood tyros yesterday.

A man is fighting for life today after a serious assault in Dublin.

THE High Court will rule next week on an application by AIB for an injunction against a number of former executives and a rival company the bank claims conspired to take over the clients, business and staff of AIB’s International Financial Services (IFS) business.

The High Court will rule next week on an application by AIB for an injunction against a number of former executives and a rival rival company the bank claims conspired to take over the clients, business and staff of AIB's International Financial Services (IFS) business.

A BUSINESS would be dealt a major blow at a “critical” early stage if AIB was granted a “sweeping injunction” stopping several former senior executives from canvassing any clients.

SEVERAL former executives with an AIB subsidiary acted in acted in “a deliberate, clandestine and unlawful manner” by planning to take over its international financial services business, the High Court heard.

Several former senior executives with an AIB subsidiary acted in "a deliberate, clandestine and unlawful manner" by secretly scheming to take over its international financial services business, the High Court has heard.

Settlement talks have failed to resolve a High Court dispute involving AIB and several of its former senior executives accused by the bank of secretly scheming to take over the clients, business and staff of AIB's international financial services business for their own gain.

AIB is to enter mediation talks with six former executives accused by the bank of secretly scheming to take over the clients, business and staff of AIB’s international financial services business for their own gain, the High Court heard yesterday.

AIB is to enter mediation talks with six former senior executives accused by the bank of secretly scheming to take over the clients, business and staff of AIB's international financial services business for their own gain, the High Court heard today.

A HIGH Court action by AIB against six senior executives accused of secretly scheming to take over the clients, business and staff of the bank’s international financial services business for their own gain has been adjourned until next week.

SIX senior AIB executives secretly and systematically colluded in the preparation and execution of a premeditated strategy to undermine and damage the bank’s International Financial Services business for their own gain, the High Court has heard.

MICHAEL HOEY returns to action at the Czech Open tomorrow determined to break into the European Tour’s Top 60, but realistic enough to know a bad bounce is all it takes to derail the best laid plans.

TULLAMORE, a splendid midlands course originally designed by James Braid and subsequently upgraded by Patrick Merrigan, is the venue for the finals of the Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields from September 16-19.

Paul Dunne (Greystones) today became the first player to successfully defend the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship with a two-stroke victory over Knock’s Colin Fairweather at Bangor Golf Club.

Tony Hayes (K Club) set the pace after the opening round of the 54 holes Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship, sponsored by Tourism Malaysia, when he shot a one under par 71 at Roscommon Golf Club.

ANDREW STRACEY (Littlestone GC, Kent), fired a final round 78 to win the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship at Bangor Golf Club yesterday.

Scotland's Gavin Dear has one-stroke lead entering Sunday's final 36 holes of the Irish Amateur Open at a windy Royal Dublin.

Gale force winds sent scores soaring in the opening round of the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Lucan's Richard O'Donovan recorded a fine opening round of 70 to lead after day one of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

Five Irish internationals have made an early exit from the West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point.

Newlands’ Andrew Hogan defied 40 mph gusts to card a four-under par 67 and grab the silver medal for the leading qualifier in the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.

England’s Jonathan Hurst has set his sights on the West of Ireland Amateur Open title after a level-par 71 gave him the first round lead at wind-blown Rosses Point today.

FOUL play is not suspected following the death of a mature student who fell ill after being questioned by gardaí.